Film Development Board
(FDB) is established by the Government of Nepal according
to the existed Motion Picture (Production, Exhibition
and Distribution) Act, 2026 amended on 20th November 1991.
The constitution of the Film Development Board was with the
Government's deep interest in development and promotion of
motion picture sector in Nepal. Therefore, the provision is
made for the Board headed by a film personality espoused with
Joint-Secretaries as ex-officio members as representatives
of the related line Ministries.
It has obviously created an environment of supporting for
the promotion of differential aspect of motion picture in
Nepal. The Board thus, is indeed a liaison to facilitate
the conceptualisation, making, distribution and exhibition
of films in Nepal. It also attempts abridging the
gap between the film entrepreneurship and the government processes.
However, the Board is bound to take care of safety of the
people and support to interest for the inspiring films of
the common populace. The Board is in reality a balance among
the people at large, government and the process of filmmaking.
It is therefore, the safeguard of the interest of
people, watchdog of government and facilitator of filmmakers.
HOW
IS THE BOARD?
The FDB is constituted as following:
»
Chairman - HMG's Nominee
»
Member - Representative, Joint-Secretary of the Ministry
of Information and Communications (MoIC)
»
Member - Representative, Joint-Secretary of the Ministry
of Finance (MoF)
»
Members - Three MoIC nominees from among the persons
of film sector
»
Member-Secretary - Under-Secretary, MoIC
THE
REALM OF FDB:
As the provisions made in Act and Rules the Board performs
following duties and responsibilities:
»
Frames necessary policies and presents before
the Ministry for the development and promotion of motion
pictures.
»
Prepares plans and programmes for the development and
promotion of motion pictures and to implement them.
»
Conducts necessary study and research for the development
of film sector.
»
Encourages private sector to produce qualitative motion
picture in any language of nation and other national languages.
»
Creates an environment for producing motion pictures
as to preserve the Nepalese arts and culture.
»
Encourages foreign motion picture producer to produce
motion picture, which helps to introduce Nepal to the
world without prejudice to the ritual, cultural, and social
beliefs of Nepal.
»
Organises film festivals and rewards or gives incentives
to the persons who have substantially contributed to the
film sector.
»
Makes necessary arrangement to protect film artist devoted
to preserve Nepalese arts and culture.
»
Does other appropriate acts for the development and
promotion of motion pictures.
»
Issues licence for production, distribution and exhibition
of films in Nepal.
BOARD AS A FACILITATOR:
The Board facilitates the interested institutions and individuals
to obtain licences or permissions for production,
distribution and exhibition of films in Nepal. The
legal provision seeks obtaining license from Government
of Nepal for producing, distributing or exhibiting
the feature and other types of films in Nepal.
ORGANISATION
AND REGULAR FUNCTIONS
There are three departments in the Board
»
Research, Development & Production Division looks
after the research, planning and development, production,
library and archive, film festivals and international
relations.
»
Distribution, Exhibition and Monitoring Division is
responsible for distribution, exhibition and monitoring
and supervision. It suggests the corrections in existing
conditions as per regulations and set standards. There
are provisions of penalty or fine for those violating
the established norms regarding production, distribution
and exhibition.
»
Finance and Administration Division manages for Board's
administration, accounts, procurement, computer and
public relations.
»
The respective sections in Board look after the application
forms for production, distribution or exhibition of
films. The licence fees as prescribed by HMG of Nepal
from time to time.
»
The Board collectively decides on the policy matters,
whereas the Chairman looks after the decisions to be
taken and Member-secretary gets the decisions implemented.
BOARD AS AN INVENTOR:
The Board is attempting for abridging the gap between Nepali
films and potential audience. Films be a topic of
talk in different walks of live is the mission of Board for
which, it has been organising interactions among litterateurs,
academicians, journalists, high level politicians, film personalities
and of course the demand side or the people at large. These
efforts have generated a number of film-literature and academic
interests in film studies. The Board provides the University
students conducting their dissertations in film with modest
fellowship.
Films with realities of life giving message for enhancing
the social understanding are always to be invented. The Board
has been attempting for creating environment to conceptualise
the essence of alternative and message-oriented cinema in
Nepal and has expressed commitment to assist such noble efforts.
Also, Board is inclined towards encouraging Cinema made in
local languages. Some provisions for assistance for such Cinemas
are also instituted.
INFORMATION AND ARCHIVES:
The Board is also maintaining documentation and archives centre.
A computerised information system regarding Nepali films in
Board is the asset of all interested individuals and institutions.
The Board activities and provisions for licences are also
available in Internet. The graduate dissertations completed
in Universities related to film would also be available in
Board's Archives Centre.
The indices of business, popularity, and critic's
judgements of films would also be made available
in Internet. Such information would support distributors,
exhibitors and even the common audience to have right choices
of the films of their interests. windows_commander
